Gun built into an armored turret with a rotating magazine

ABSTRACT

A gun built in an armored turret, particularly of armored vehicles, with a magazine moving in an endless path and comprising tube-like containers for receiving ammunition and disposed parallel relative to each other, which comprises a plurality of containers disposed parallel to the axis of the gun barrel. Means are provided for moving the containers in superposed planes crosswise to the axis of the gun barrel behind the gun. A magazine is arranged and the gun barrel has a loading chamber. The magazine and the loading chamber chamber define a space therebetween, and a loading device is disposed in the space.

I) lJnited States Patent [191 [111 3,724,324

Zielinslri [451 Apr. 3, 1973 54| GUN BUILT INTO AN ARMORED 3.501996 3 1910 Lipp et at ..s9 34 TURRET WITH A ROTATING 3,303,741 2/l967 Christinnsson .39/34 MAGAZINE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Emh Grmten Germany 715,358 l2/l941 Germany ..s9 4s [73] Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH, Dusseldorf,

Germany Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley [22] Filed: July 16 1970 Att0mey--Ernest G. Montague [21] Appl. No.: 55,345 [57] ABSTRACT A gun built in an armored turret, particularly of ar- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data mored vehicles, with a magazine moving in an endless path and comprising tube-like containers for receiving July 30,1969 Germany ..P 19 38 681.3 ammunition and disposed parallel relative to each other, which comprises a plurality of containers "89/36 disposed parallel to the axis of the gun barrel. Means are provided for moving the containers in superposed [58] held of i g ig13 1 5 planes crosswise to the axis of the gun barrel behind the gun. A magazine is arranged and the gun barrel has a loading chamber. The magazine and the loading [56] References cued chamber chamber define a space therebetween, and a UNITED STATES PATENTS loading device is disposed in the space.

2,933,981 4/1960 Anderson et al. ..89/36 H 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 3 I975 SHEET 1 [IF 2 11v vglv TOR PATENTEDAPR 3 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 I IN EN TOR 44 1 Law W 4,

GUN BUILT INTO AN ARMORED TURRET WITH A ROTATING MAGAZINE The present invention relates to guns built in armored turrets, in particular to armored vehicles with a magazine rotating in an endless path for mounting and feeding of ammunition.

The mounting of storing of the largest possible quantity of ammunition and its feeding to the gun and to a loading device respectively, constitutes always a main problem in the construction of a turret vehicle. In the desire to obtain the lowest possible firing height, small dimensions resulting therefrom and thereby low weight, that the space available inside of the armored turret is very limited. Beyond that, however, also a comparatively high firing speed is demanded, whereby the problems to be solved become still more difficult.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention, to provide, for guns built in armored turrets, particularly in armored vehicles, a magazine rotating in an endless path, and to provide the arrangement such, that with a lowest possible space requirement, a greatest possibly quantity of ammunition is held in storage and can be fed to the gun and to a loading device, respectively.

For the storing and feeding of ammunition in armored vehicles, a rotating magazine is known already, which consists of tube-like containers disposed parallel to each other and pivotally connected together, which magazine is disposed in the bow and in the tail, respectively, of the armored vehicle (German Patent No. 946,601). In this case, there is, however, a comparatively small armored vehicle for an armored fight, which has no actual turret, in which is provided also the space for the gun operation. The loading of the tubular weapon disposed in a rotatable dome takes place thereby manually from the inside of the vehicle through a hatch.

For the solution of the problems encountered in the present invention, the known structure is not suitable.

The use of the tube-like containers for receiving the ammunition is advantageous, however, because the containers permit the careful storing and feeding of also thin-walled and impact-sensitive ammunition.

It is another object of the present invention, to provide for guns built in armored turrets, a magazine rotating in an endless path, wherein the tube-like containers forming the magazine are disposed parallel to the bore axis of the gun barrel and move in superposed horizontal planes crosswise to the bore axis behind the gun, and wherein in known manner, in the space between the magazine and the loading space of the gun barrel, a loading device is provided.

A fast filling of the magazine with ammunition is hereby obtained in an advantageous embodiment of the presentinvention such, that within the range of the rearward end side of the magazine in the turret wall one or a plurality of openings capable of being closed are provided for feeding the ammunition into the tube-like containers.

An advantageous embodiment of the present invention resides in an arrangement according to which the tube-like containers are connected at their end sides with transportation chains guided in guide-rails, and wherein the transportation chains and the guide-rails as well as the feeding openings are arranged such, that the containers of at least one plane for loading, and the containers of another plane within the range of the loading device for removal of the ammunition, are freely accessible. This type of structure makes possible, in addition to a particularly favorable space exploitation, the acceleration of the loading process and thereby a high firing speed.

In a further advantageous development of the present invention, the containers can be secured at their end sides to the transportation chains by means of a rotary pin each, whereby the pins are secured diametrically opposite each other at the periphery of the containers and an additional guide-rail is provided on an end side of the magazine, for the guidance of two guide pins secured on a chord section on the periphery of the containers, such that the containers run always in the same position like a patemoster elevator. With such structure a very low type of construction is obtained, which permits the formation of the turret very low in the same manner.

The loading process of the gun can be accelerated in an advantageous embodiment by an automatic loading device, which consists of a tube displaceable into each other telescopic-like, as well as of a chain connector, known per se, disposed behind the magazine.

Further structural, mounting and weight advantages are brought about such, that the magazine is disposed in a carrying frame and can swing out as a unit about a horizontal axis downwardly from the turret, whereby advantageously the base plate of the carrying frame forms simultaneously the bottom plate of the turrettail.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention, which is shown by example only, will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is top plan view, partly in an axial section, of a turret of an armored vehicle with a gun and a magazine;

FIG. 2 is an axial section of a turret tail, disclosing a second embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a section along the lines III--III of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the device designed in accordance with the present invention comprises a turret l of an armored vehicle, which turret 1 is rotatable about a vertical axis. A gun 2 is mounted in the forward end wall of the turret 1 by means of a roller feeder 3. The gun 2 has a breech block 4, as well as a loading lever 5 disposed below and behind the same, by means of which the ammunition 7 taken from a magazine 6 is fed to the gun. The rearward end side of the turret-tail is open and the magazine 6 is inserted into the opening. For this purpose, the magazine 6 is arranged in a carrying frame 8, which is supported on a console 9provided in the turret wall. The magazine 6 comprises tube-like containers 10, which move around parallel to each other and parallel to the bore axis of the gun barrel in superposed horizontal planes behind the gun 2. The containers are secured for this purpose on endless conveyor chains 1 1 which are guided by guide rails 12 disposed in the carrying frame 8. In the embodiment shown by example, in the space 13 provided between the two conveyor planes, the gun cartridges or also further ammunition can be stacked up. For the collection of the ammunition, openings 14 and 15 capable of being closed are provided in the range of the rearward end side of the magazine 6. The magazine 6 is driven by a motor (not shown) operatively acting on the conveyor chains, by which the latter are movable continuously or intermittently. The rear opening 14 forms furthermore an additional entrance hatch for the turret.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 2, the tail of an armored turret 16 of another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The magazine comprises likewise tube-like containers 17, which move in superposed horizontal planes crosswise to the bore axis behind the gun (not shown). In the space between the magazine and the gun, a loading device is provided, which consists of a telescoping tube 18. The tube-like containers 17 are secured, at their end sides by means of a pivot pin each 19, to conveyor chains 21 guided in guide rails 20, whereby the pivot pins 19 are disposed diametrically opposite each other at the periphery of the containers 17. The guide rails 20 and the conveyor chains 21 on the rearward end side of the magazine are set off relative to each other as to their height relative to those on the forward end side such, that the containers of the upper plane for the filling of the ammunition are freely accessible through an opening 23 which is capable of being closed by means of a flap 22 provided in the tail wall of the turret, and that the ammunition 24 can be fed from the containers of the lower plane directly to the loading device 18 and from here to the loading chamber of the gun barrel. On the rearward end side of the magazine, a further guide rail 25 is provided to guide two guide pins 26 secured to a chord section at the periphery of the containers 17. By this arrangement the containers 17 can move along the guide path always oriented in the same position relative to each other like a patemoster elevator, which is required for certain types of ammunition, which have to be inserted always in the same position into the gun barrel.

The magazine is disposed in a carrying frame 27, which is secured to a bottom plate 28. The bottom plate 28 forms simultaneously the bottom plate of the turret-tail and is secured to the turret by means of screw bolts 29. Upon loosening of the screw bolts 29, the bottom plate 28 can swing out jointly with the magazine about an axle 30, on which the bottom plate 28 is pivoted, from the turret. The loading process takes place by means of chain connectors of any suitable type, the connection head 31 of which is shown in FIG. 2. Upon operation of the driven chain connector, a cartridge 24 is moved from the container 17 into the inner tube 18" of the telescoping tube 18, which consists of two tubes 18 and 18" displaceable into each other. During the further loading movement, by sliding the inner tube 18 in the outer tube 18', the cartridge is fed directly to the loading chamber of the gun barrel. The telescoping tube 18 is displaceable crosswise to the bore axis, so that in case of particular requirements, the entire space between the magazine and the gun is available for the barrel recoil.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood, that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limitmg sense.

I claim:

1. A gun built in an armored turret with tube-like containers for receiving ammunition moving in an endless path parallel relative to each other, comprising a magazine comprising a plurality of containers disposed parallel to the axis of the gun barrel,

means for moving said containers, in superposed planes crosswise to the axis of the gun barrel, behind the gun,

said gun barrel having a loading chamber,

said magazine and said loading chamber defining a space therebetween,

a loading device disposed in said space, and

said magazine has a rearward end side, and includes at least one opening capable of being closed in the wall of said turret within the range of said rearward end side, at least one of said at least one opening being adapted to receive ammunition in the tubelike containers.

2. The gun, as set forth in claim I, which includes transportation chains,

guide rails defining a guide path for said containers and guiding said transportation chains,

said tube-like containers are connected at their end sides with said transportation chain,

said transportation chains, said guide rails, and said opening are arranged such, that said containers in at least one plane for loading, and said containers in at least one other plane within the range of said loading device for the removal of the ammunition, are freely accessible, respectively.

3. The gun, as set forth in claim 2, which includes pivot pins,

said containers are connected with said transportation chains by means of said pivot pins,

said pivot pins are secured diametrically opposite each other at the periphery of said containers, at a front and a back thereof, respectively,

two guide pins secured to a chord section of the periphery of each of said containers, and

an additional guide rail means is provided on an end side of said magazine for guiding said two guide pins secured to a chord section of the periphery of said containers, such that said containers are always in the same orientation as they move along said guide path.

4. The gun, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said containers are positioned spaced to define an ammunition storage space interior to the path of movement of said containers, and another of said at least one opening is for access to said storage space.

5. The gun, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said superposed planes constitute substantially two planes oriented shelf-like closely one above the other. 6. A gun built in an armored turret with tube-like containers for receiving ammunition moving in an endless path parallel relative to each other, comprising a magazine comprising a plurality of containers disposed parallel to the axis of the gun barrel,

means for moving said containers, in superposed planes crosswise to the axis of the gun barrel, behind the gun,

said gun barrel having a loading chamber,

said magazine and said loading chamber defining a space therebetween,

7. The gun, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said carrying frame has a bottom plate, and said bottom plate constitutes simultaneously a bottom plate of a tail portion of said turret. 

1. A gun built in an armored turret with tube-like containers for receiving ammunition moving in an endless path parallel relative to each other, comprising a magazine comprising a plurality of containers disposed parallel to the axis of the gun barrel, means for moving said containers, in superposed planes crosswise to the axis of the gun barrel, behind the gun, said gun barrel having a loading chamber, said magazine and said loading chamber defining a space therebetween, a loading device disposed in said space, and said magazine has a rearward end side, and includes at least one opening capable of being closed in the wall of said turret within the range of said rearward end side, at least one of said at least one opening being adapted to receive ammunition in the tube-like containers.
 2. The gun, as set forth in claim 1, which includes transportation chains, guide rails defining a guide path for said containers and guiding said transportation chains, said tube-like containers are connected at their end sides with said transportation chain, said transportation chains, said guide rails, and said opening are arranged such, that said containers in at least one plane for loading, and said containers in at least one other plane within the range of said loading device for the removal of the ammunition, are freely accessible, respectively.
 3. The gun, as set forth in claim 2, which includes pivot pins, said containers are connected with said transportation chains by means of said pivot pins, said pivot pins are secured diametrically opposite each other at the periphery of said containers, at a front and a back thereof, respectively, two guide pins secured to a chord section of the periphery of each of said containers, and an additional guide rail means is provided on an end side of said magazine for guiding said two guide pins secured to a chord section of the periphery of said containers, such that said containers are always in the same orientation as they move along said guide path.
 4. The gun, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said containers are positioned spaced to define an ammunition storage space interior to the path of movement of said containers, and another of said at least one opening is for access to said storage space.
 5. The gun, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said superposed planes constitute substantially two planes oriented shelf-like closely one above the other.
 6. A gun built in an armored turret with tube-like containers for receiving ammunition moving in an endless path parallel relative to each other, comprising a magazine comprising a plurality of containers disposed parallel to the axis of the gun barrel, means for moving said containers, in superposed planes crosswise to the axis of the gun barrel, behind the gun, said gun barrel having a loading chamber, said magazine and said loading chamber defining a space therebetween, a loading device disposed in said space, a carrying frame, said magazine is disposed in said carrying frame to constitute a unit, and means for swinging out said unit downwardly from said turret.
 7. The gun, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said carrying frame has a bottom plate, and said bottom plate constitutes simultaneously a bottom plate of a tail portion of said turret. 